Newspaper Page Text
EFFECT ON FARMING.
WHAT A RESUME INSPIRED BY THE
PRESENT CRISIS REVEALS.
Tlio Value of Farm Product* Has Had n
Rapidly Declining Tendency Since 1870,
Looking For the Causes of This Very Un
satisfactory Condition*
When liy reason of unfavorable con
ditions nearly half of the population is
deprived in whole or in part of its power
to purchase of the products of those en
gaged in manufacturing industries, the
whole commercial and industrial world
suffers from paralysis; the exchanges
become deranged; hoarding ensues;
monetary stringency follows; mills, fac
tories and furnaces close; operatives,
ceasing to earn, lose their power to pur
chase the products of their own labor
as well Ss of the labor of others, and the
circle of declining activity constantly
widens.
Such are .the conditions now exist
ing, and they are largely if not almost
wholly due primarily to the loss of the
power on the part of some 45 per cent of
the people to purchase other than the
veriest necessaries.
On the other hand, whenever this
great multitude of people have large rev
enues, their purchases are of such vol
ume and the character and quantity
bought so constant that manufacturing
plants are fully employed, and new ones
•are built to meet augmenting demands.
The mill owner buys raw material in ad
vance of consumption; operatives and
artisans have constant work; the wage
scale being an ascending one, the ability
of the worker to buy the products of
his own labor and of the labor of others
is enhanced; money seeks employment
with confidence; tlio merchant’s stock
rapidly disappears and is constantly re
plenished; collections are oasy, and, in
short, labor is fully employed, manufac
turers are overrun with orders, money
is abundant and times are good.
As the prices of farm products have
fallen, so 1ms declined the purchasing
power of that body of producers consti
tuting nearly half the working force of
the nation, and ea .has waned the pros
perity of all.
At the taking of the census of 1870- 53
per cent.iof all the males following regu
lar vocations were engaged in agricnl-
. ture, and this was .approximately the
proportion of tlio people living upon the
farm, but by 1880, owing to the growth
• of manufactures, the proportion had
been reduced below 49 per cent aud is
now probab!y about 45 per cent.
After the close of the ..civil war farm
products brought such prices that the§2
per cent of , the population then directly
dependent upon agriculture had ample
revenue. Their purchases of the prod
ucts of manufacture were so,liberal that
many establishments ran night and day.
The mill owner, the producer of raw
material, the merchant and .till those
engaged .directly .and indirectly in dis
tribution >or construction, as well as
;those employed.in;the subsidiary indus
tries, were fully employed at remunera
tive rates, ithe respftt being an ,era of
prosperity never equaled in onr history,
as neither before nor since have those
prices for farm products been equaled.
As the power of the farmer to buy de
clined,, so has defined measurably the
activity,of the industrial .aiul commer
cial world, except as an impulse has
been gives to commerce and manufae-
tuxes by the construction of an immense
railway mileage, often in advance and
excess of local needs. While the de
velopment of transportation facilities
aeryed to mask and postpone some of
the inevitable results due to the farm
er’s loss of purchasing power, the almost
entire cessation of such works tends to
emphasize the loss of that power, which
the farmer exercised ip such a way as to
-cause a rapid extension of the industrial
equipment of the country, until it has
become more than sufficient to meet de
mands reduced by reason of the loss of
revenue suffered by the greatest body of
workers in the country.
The nation is likely never again to
have its economic conditions hidden by
a factitious prosperity growing out of
great railway constructions, as such
operations are no longer possible, there
being no region, except very limited
southern areas, where expenditures could
be made to appear as promising returns
to tempt the possessors of available
funds.
.For more than 15 years—1878 to 1893-
all the great primary agricultural sta
ples have been declining in price, al
though there have been periods when
the price of some one was high for a lim
ited time. This is more notably true as
respects secondary products, especially
meats and lard, but the trend of the
whole scale has been constantly down
ward, and the general price level at the
end of each year was lower than at its
> beginning.
While the cost of production cannot
have been lessened as much us 5 per
cent since 1875, prices for the staple
product of the farm averaged 83 per
cent greater during the five years ending
with 1875 than now. This is especially
true as respects the five staples corn,
wheat, oats, hay and cotton, which em
ploy 105,000.01)0 out of the 206,000,000
acres now devoted to staple crops.
The following table shows in five year
averages the gold value per acre (in the
local farm markets) of the product of
the five staples named for quinquennial
periods since 1806 and an es.imateof the
the value, with average yields, of an acre
under each such staple in 1893 at present
prices:
VALUE or AN ACHE’S PRODUCT.
I860- 1871- 1870- 1881- 1880- 1883.
70. 75. 80. 85. 00.
Corn $12.84 11.30 9.62 10.25 8.81 8.35
Wheat 13.10 11.80 12.00 10.20 9.07 0.00
Oats 10.92 9.81 8.58 9.17 7.50 5.75
Hay 13.28 14.38 11.57 11.15 10.19 10.00
Cotton 28.01 28.55 17.05 15.08 13.84 10.05
... Totals $78.21 75.94 69.42 60.40 49.44 40.75
~ Average an
acre $16.04 15.19 11.88 11.28 9.89 8.15
If, as is altogether probable, the rev
enue derived from the cultivation of
each acre of the staples named has not
since 1885 been in excess of the cost of
production, then it is readily seen that
the workers among the 80,000,000 who
inhabit the farms of tlio United Status
have for eight years received no moro
than laborers’ wages and could pur
chase but the barest necessaries. As
prices now current are 31 per cent below
the average of 1880 to 1800, it follows
that the products of the farm aro now
sold below the cost of production, and
that the farmer is wholly without pur
chasing power other than snch as results
from his wages as a common laborer.
Granting that present prices even
cover the cost of production, or say $8.15
an acre, it is evident that every cent that
can bo added thereto will be in the na
ture of profits or rent and will add that
much to the purchasing or debt paying
power of the cultivator, but there is
abundant evidence that $8.15 does not
represent the actual average cost of pro
ducing tlio staple products, and that the
farmer’s debt paying and purchasing
power has been reduced to that of the
lower class of labor and will afford him
while present prices obtain but the
means of the most meager subsistence.
That present prices are below the cost of
production appears probable from the
fact that outside a few favorably situ
ated communities there has been no re
duction of farm indebtedness in recent
years, while tho farmer has over wide
areas from year to year been reducing
his purchases of the products,of manu
facture, although his revenues have been
21 per cent above the present level.
As 206,000,000 acres are now employed
in growing staple crops, it follows that
the power of the farmer to purchase
is this year $1,503,000,000 less than it
would be if he was receiving the price
of 1800-70 for his great staples. If the
prices now realized in tlio farm markets
equaled those received from 1871 to 1875,
the farmer would this year be able to
spend $1,400,000,000 moro for manufac
tures and other commodities than he will
be able to spend with prices at the pres
ent level. Were prices now equal to
the average of those obtained front 1876
to 1880, the purchasing power of the
farmers would this year be augmented
by $708,000,000.
Should the .crops of 1893 give average
yields and the prices equal those current
from 1881 to 1885, the farmer’s spending
power would be $045,000,000 greater than
with present prices. , Even with prices
as low as those prevailing from 1886 to
1890, tho farmers of the United States
would have $358,000,000 added to their
debt paying aud purchasing power in
1893, and like advances on the other
products of the farm would creato ah
ample fund for building and general im
provement, tlius employing more labor
.Much stress is laid upon the necessity
-of cheap food for the wageworker, but
Avhat possible benefit can be derived
from a cheapness .that deprives the 30,-
-000,000 who produce food and fiber of
the ability to keep the wageworker em
ployed by buying the products of artisan
and operative?
Doubling the present price of wheat
would probably add the price -of six or
eight .days’ labor to the cost, of the year’s
supply of bread for the average family,
bnt with wheat at an average of $1 per
bushel at.the farm markets and other
farm products at proportionate prices
there would he no idle mills, and the
earner of wages would have that easily
procured and constant work which
would assure him the continuous ability
to buy bread. .Would not that be far
.better than existing conditions and
bread unattainable, though low in price?
We recently published a statement to
tfeo effect that the 1,600 young women
employed in the Warner corset factory
at Bridgeport, Conn., ted been reduced
to half time; that 600-of them were un
able to buy food and were fed by the
charity,of their employer. Such condi
tions exist because the women upon the
farms are unable to renew their corsets
with wheat selling west of the Missis
sippi at from 89 to 40 cents a bushel.
The relation between the price of
wheat, the lack of power to buy corsets'
and the idleness and inability of the
women of Bridgeport to buy bread is as
obvious as that between the earth’s
movements and day and night.
However people may have disagreed
about the late Zach Chandler’s states
manship, no one questioned his success
as a merchant, and this was due as much
to his power of discerning economic con
ditions affecting his customers as to the
unerring judgment with which he pro
vided salable goods. Soon after the close
of the civil war, being asked if he could
find sale in the farming districts for a
lot of rich dress goods which he was
shipping to small inland towns, his reply
was characteristic;
“Sell them! Sell theml Why, the
women on the farms of Michigan have
discarded homespun and calicoes for silk
and merino, and no farmer’s sen now
thinks of going out to plow unless
dressed in doeskin trousers and calfskin
boots. Don’t you know that wheat is
selling for $3 a bushel?”
Such was the late Mr. Chandler’s way
of stating the operation of that economic
law which enables people to buy liberal
ly of the products of others.
Mills and furnaces are idle and oper
atives unable to buy bread because a
large part of the 30,000,000 inhabiting
the farms have lost their purchasing po w-
er; the purchasing power has been lost
because the products of the soil have
over wide areas sold at or below the cost
of production; farm products bring in
adequate prices because primarily of
the existence during recent years of a
cultivated acreage in excess of the world’s
requirements, and there are those who
believe that the depressing influence of
this excessive acreage upon prices has
been intensified and augmented by
methods employed upon the produce ex
changes.—New York Sun.
London's Pleasure Grounds.
The city of London has no park within
its borders, and yet the largest recrea
tion ground open to Londoners is under
the control of the city corporation—dip
ping forest, with its 5,650 acres, or nearly
nine square miles of almost unbroken
woodland, forming one of the most ex
tensive pleasure grounds in Europe.
ARE YOU GOING TO THE
WORLD’S FAIR?
If ho, hcg tlmt your ticket reads via Cincin
nati and the C. If. & I), ajld Monou--thc
acknowledged “‘World’* Fair Line.”
Tho only lino out of Cincinnati connecting
with E. T.,V. & G. and Q,. & C. train No. 2, ar
riving Cincinnati 10;:i() p. in. A solid train,
carrying through sleepers from Jacksonville,
Havannah, IGnnlngliHin, Atlanta, Chatta
nooga, .Macon and New Orleans via E. T.,
V, & G., Q,. A C., C. 11. & I). and Monon Itoutc
to Chicago,
You can stop over in Cincinnati If your
ticket reads via the C. Ji. & J>. and Monon
Route, by depositing same with the Mer
chants’ and Manufacturers’ Association,
Chnmbcj’ of Commerce Building, corner of
Fourth and Vino Streets, one block from
Fountain Square (the C. II. & I). ticket ofllce
is in the same building). Tills enables you to
visit the picturesque “Queen City” at no ad
ditional cost, and special efforts will be made
to entertain strangers hospitably and reason
ably.
The universal verdict of the traveling pub
ic is that the Pullman Safety Vcstlbuled
trains, running every day “and Sunday loo,”
via the C. II. & D. and Monon, between Cin
cinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago, are with
out doubt the “finest on earth.” These trains
were especially built by the Pullman Compa
ny for this service, and embrace every
improvement, Their magnificent coaches,
luxurious smoking cars, superb sleepers,
observation cars, compartment sleeping cars
and unexcelled dining car service, afford “all
tho comforts of home.”
Leaving Cincinnati you pass through the
beautiful Miami Valley, and for twenty-five
miles the double tracks run through the very
front door yards of the finest suburban homes
In the country, lleyond Hamilton and up to
Indianapolis, the line is noted for its scenic
beauty.
A stop over at IndiaiHipolis; the capital of
Indiana, may be obtained by depositing your
ticket with the Secretary of the Commercial
Club. This city is more worthy of a visit
than almost any other of its size in the West,
and offers the greatest inducements to trav
eller and tourist. Between Indianapolis and
Chicago the line traverses the very best, agri
cultural and commercial territory, and the
ride is one of unparalled comfort and beauty.
Bear in mind that the C. II. & D. and Mo-
non Route trains run all run via Burnside
crossing, from which point the Illinois Cen
tral suburban trains run direct to the
World’s Fair Grounds every moment. At
Englewood connection is made with the elec
tric cars, whiqli run every five minutes to
the grounds., but we recommend all persons
to go directly into the Dearborn Station,
which is located in the heart of the city and
from which all streetcar lines converge, then
go directly by car or cab to your hotel or
boarding place. First locate yourself: know
where and how you are to live while in Chi
cago. Get the locality firmly fixed in your
mind, before going to the World’s Fair
any of the numerous convenient ways: the
cable ears, [electric roads, elevated railrc
II inois Central It. It., suburban trains and
the steamboats afford ample accommoda
tions for all possible visitors, and it is but
live minutes ride from the business portior
of the city to the grounds. Take your break
fast down town, buy your lunch at the
grounds, and take your supper down tow
If you follow these suggestions, you w
will save money. The facilities for serving
luivcfii at. tlio World’s Fair Grounds arc ex
traordinary and the prices are (cheaper than
at your own home, but breakfast and supper
should be taken down town, or at your
iKMirding.house. The World’s Fair is already
the mosLastoundingand .stupendous specta
cle -evar attempted by any people, and a day’s
visit will uifford more delight and instruction
than can possibly be obtained In any other
way or by the same expenditure oX money
For further .particulars, deeeripiiwe pam
phlets, rates,.etc., address
E. A. Hoovjbk,
General Advertising Agent C. II..& XL It. R.
No. 200 W. Fourrh>St. Cincinnati, O..
For Owes- Fifty Sear*
Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup has
been used fer nwer fifty years by mil
Iona of mothers tor their children
while teething, with perfect success. I
soothes the child, softens the gum,
allays all pain, cures wind colic, and
Is the test remedy for Diarrhoea. It
will relieve the poor little sufferer im
mediately, Sold by druggists in every
part of the world. Twenty-five cents
a bottle Be sure and ask for “Mrs.
Winslow’s Soothing Syrup.” and take
no other kind. 61yrJuoe2
Have you tried Plantation Liver
Pills for habitual constipation? They
are perfectly delightful and a sure
cure. Price 25 cents. Sold by Brad-
field & Slack.
Buckleu’s Arnica Salve.
The best salve in the world for
Cuts, Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt
Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter,
Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns,
and all skin Eruptions, and positive
ly cures Piles, or no pay required.
It is guaranteed to give perfect satis
faction, or money refunded. Price
25 cents per box. For sale by W
T. Herring & Bro.
Female Weakness Positive Cure.
To The Editor: Please inform your
readers that I have a positive remedy
for the thousand aud >ne ills which
arise from deranged female organs. I
shall be glad to send two bottles of my
remedy free to any lady if tbey will
send tbeir Express and P. O. address.
Yours respectfully.
Dr. B. B Marchisi, Utica, N. Y.
Is j our life worth 50 cents?
Dumb Chill; Ague; Congestive
Chill; Death. This is the evolution
of that italarinl Abilly setsatiorj.
Stop it in time. Plantation Chill Cure
will do it, or it will cost, yon nothing.
IF YOU WANT
If you want a Check Book
If you want a Catalogue
If you want a .School Circular
if you want Warehouse Tickets
If you want Circular Letters
if you want Receipt Books made
If you want Fine Ear dopes
If you want Letter Heads
if you want Note Heads
If you want Bill Heads
If you want Statements
If you want Business Cards
If you want Visiting Card*
SEND VOUUlOHDERS TO
Reporter Steam Printing House,
Andrews Hotel Building,
LaG range, Ua.
Columbian Cyclopedia.
32 Handy Volumes.
The latest and best! Don’t
be deceived by advertisements
of old works out of date, Eng
lish, at that. Examine before
you buy.
Of four cyclopedias I have, I like
the Columbian best.
Eui.eu B. Smith.
I have been veil pleased with the
werk. It Is attractive. C. O. Cox.
Its place in toy library could not be
supplied by any similar work.
S. P. Callaway.
I have the Appleton, Brittanies f9th
edition), and the Columbian Cyclo
pedias. I have lound the Columbian
squarely up to date, with many arti
cles not contained in either of ih
others. It is the best of its kind.
N. E. Harris, Macon, Ga.
Hundreds of others, best judges,
who know everything, say it is the
best. Send for samples.
The Columbian Booh Co.,
Atlanta, Ga.
Artists’ Materials,
Pianos and Organs,
Musical Instruments
of All Kinds
Sheet Music and Strings for all
instruments.
Over 125 styles of “Picture
Frame Mouldings.”
Catalogue of over 5,000 pieces
sheet music. Sent by mail to any
address.
Agency for the celebrated high
grade
EAGLE,
KEATING AND
DERBY BICYCLES.
SOLD ON EASY TERMS.
HARRY H. SMITH,
WEST POINT, GA.
Dr A J- THCtGLE,
Physician and Surgeon,
OFFICE: Opera House Building.
W.K. WEAVER, A.8., D. D. S.
Office;in Opera House Building.
Hotrns: 8 to 12, |m., 1 to 5, p. m.
Dr. U. R. ALLEN,
Physician & Surgeon
OFFICE inol’liillips, Swain & Co.’s
Drug Store.
DEAE
JNESS CURED brVee*’. cm.
*I»,lilbleTU8UlARfAR CUSHIONS
| Whisper, he.ril distinctly. Comfort.
»ble. B«MM*«lw!iere»llremediMfftU. IlI..t)oolt Aproofil
Im. AddreMoroftlloaV. lil&UOX, ObSUromOw.,. X.
■aiO OTHER Sarsaparilla has ef-
fected such remarkable cures as
HOOD’S Sarsaparilla, of Scrofula,
Salt Rheum, and other blood diseases.
v „
Uj Li
ii i ii
MAIN BUILDi:7GS-C0R COLLPGB.
eiWAKira (342.
'v;—
Ihe Full Graduate Costume.
Faculty of Twenty-one. Liberal, Fine, and Practical Arts.
Library, Museum, Observatory, extensive modern equipment*.
Eclectic, Regular, Full Courses. Modern Languages spoken*
8 Languages, 11 Sciences, 11 branches of Music taught*.
186 Private Music Pupils; Two Art Studios.
Boarders from Canada, the States, Cuba, i. T , and Mexico.
Healthful and homelike. Early application is necessaryi-
Send for Illustrated Souvenir, History, and Catalogue. Session:
resumes September a8th, 1892. — ■ ——- — ■■ —
CHAS, C. COX, Preset. UgRMGE, GA
Georgia Military Institute*
NEAR ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
This School offers to parents the following excellent advantages^
IT TRAINS BOYS to.liablts of promptness, order,[neatness and respect.
THE DISCIPLINE is strict and unyielding, but not humiliating. Self-respect is thfr
basis of character.
THE CADETS are under constant supervision of the teachers, and are not allowed to
leave the premises, except by written permission.
THE INSTRUCTION is thorough, offering the best preparation for college, or .business*
THE DAILY EXERCISES and regular habits produce the best physical development.
THE MORAL INFLUENCES that surround the school are wholesome and elevating.
TRY US AND SEE.
SOTTTISIBierfcT
Shorthand : and : Business: College.
57 S, BROAD ST., ATLANTA, GA,
Also Purchasers of Moore’s Business College*
making it the Leading Commercial
College of the South.
FOUR COLLEGES IN ONE, Shorthand*
Bookkeeping, Telegraphy, Fine Art.
The most largely patronized Business College
in the Southern States. Large catalogue free..
Mention this paper.
A. & W. P. R. R. AND W. OF ALA.
In Effect May 7, 18i)3.
Daily
Ex. Sun.
No. 57.
Daily.
No. 65.
Daily,
No. 51.
Daily.
No. 53. -
STATIONS.
Daily.
No. 50.
Dally.
No. 52.
Dally.
No. 54.
G 00 a ni
4 10 p in
4 50 a m
Lv Selma Ar
11 20 p m
10 10 a m
9 30 pm
10 00 a ni
1 00 a ra
6 20 a m
Lv MontgomeryAr
9 20 p ni
3 45 a m
2 00 p ni
11 2-1 a m
2 31 a m
7 25 am
Lv Chehaw Ar
2 20 a ni
12 21 p is
12 19 p in
3 30 a in
8 09 a m
Ar Opelllia Lv
7 3Gpiri
1 2 1 a m
11 20 a m
12 27 p m
3 30 a m
8 12a m
Lv Opelika Ar
7 33 p III
1 23 a ni
11 10 a m
1 14 p m
4 2G a in
8 48 a m
Ar West Point Ar
6 52 p m
12 3G a ni
10 20 a m
1 45 p m
2 14 a m
5 01 a in
5 32 a m
9 15 a m
Ar LaGrange Ar
Ar Hogansvtlle Ar
Ar Giantville Ar
6 25 p m
12 0/ a m
11 39 a in
10 02 a m
9 40 a ni
2 29 p ill
2 55 p in
5 48 a in
11 25 a m
9 2 a ni
6 16 a m
10 21 a m
Ar Nownan Ar
5 25 p m
10 59 a m
9 02 a ni
3 24 p m
3 37 p m
4 05 p m
0 48 a m
Ar Palmetto Ar
10 30 a m
10 10 in
8 30 a m
8 20 a m
7 30 a m
11 22am|Ar East Point Ar
4 27pm
9 50 p m
8 02 a m
4 HO r * m
7 50 a m
11 40 a mi
Ar Atlanta Lv
4 10 p m
8 25 p m
7 4;i a m
EDMUND TYLER. G. M.
General Office, Atlanta, Ga,
JNO. A. GEE, G. P- AJ.
A. B. HANDLEY
J. E. JONE®
A. B. HANDLEY & CO.,
General Hardware
AGRIGLTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
STOVES, TINWARE & HOLLOW WARE
LAGRANGE, GEORGIA.
Sold by Bradfleld & Slack.
PIKE BROS
II
PROPRIETORS OF
LaGrange Plow Faetory and Planing Mill,
Contractors and Builders.
Dealers in Lumber, Shingles, Laths, Lime, Brick, Sash, Doors, Blind
Wi BKk, Mculdirgs, and all kinds of scroll and turned work. Estimate
nisbed promptly and satisfaction guaranteed.
MALLARY BROS. &ICO.
, iMiJkCJOlfcT, GHEOiea-IA.-
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY
An Engine, Boiler, Saw Mill, Grist Mill, Cotton-
Gin or Press, Mower, or anything in the way off
Machinery, please drop us a line. A postal card
may save a great deal of money.
Mention this paper MALL ARY BI1QS*. & CO.
MANHOOD RESTORED! 39S5S&ffl!S£
guaranteed to c ure ai 1 nervous diseases, suoli as Weak Memory, Loss of Brain
ir. Headache, Wakefulness, Lost Manhood, Nightly Bmlsslons, Nervous-
all drains and loss of power in Generative Organs of either sex caused
. _ . . 1 prepaid. With a order w®
Ive a written guarantee to cure or refund the money, cold by all
.rugglsts. Ask for tt, take no other. Write for free Medloal Book sent sealer
lu plain wrapper. Address NEHLVJESJBElk 130., MasonicTdOplCiV
For sale in La Grange, Ga., by BKADFIKLD & SLACK. Druggists,